Two cruise ships call at Porto Santo as season builds
Madeira GuidePorto Santo is due to receive 16 cruise calls by May, while Funchal handled four ships on Tuesday.
Porto Santo received the Hanseatic Spirit and Amadea on Tuesday, 20 October, with 714 passengers and 491 crew members between them, Diário de NotĂcias Madeira reported.
Hanseatic Spirit arrived at 20:00 on Monday and remained overnight. The JFM Shipping-handled vessel carried 192 passengers and 167 crew on a 13-night voyage from Leixões to Sal island, Cape Verde. Porto Santo was its first call, and it was scheduled to leave for Funchal at 18:00 on Tuesday after a passage by Deserta Grande before continuing to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde.
Amadea arrived at 06:00 on Tuesday with 522 passengers and 324 crew, according to Diário de NotĂcias Madeira. Handled by Blatas, it was due to remain at anchor until 14:00, with passengers taken ashore by auxiliary boats. Its 24-day cruise began in Bremen, Germany, on 13 October and ends there on 6 November; after Porto Santo, it goes to Funchal, then the Canary Islands, Morocco, Lisbon and Vigo.
APRAM used the two calls for a promotional action for passengers and crew, distributing gifts and destination information about Porto Santo's culture, traditions and tourist attractions. Porto Santo is due to receive 16 cruise calls by May.
Funchal also had four ships passing through its port on Tuesday: Amadea, Hanseatic Spirit, Royal Clipper and Britannia. Royal Clipper arrived from Portimão at 10:00 with 294 people on board and was due to depart for Bridgetown, Barbados, at 18:00. Britannia carried 5,245 people and was making its first call on a two-week itinerary from and back to Southampton, England, also including the Canary Islands, Cádiz and Lisbon.
On Wednesday, Liberty of the Seas and Le Lapérouse are due to arrive in Madeira with more than 5,000 people between them. One of the season's highlights will be a ship making its first visit on 22 November, followed by calls in December and January.
JM Madeira previously reported that Ventura opens Madeira's 2026/27 cruise season.
Update — 2026-10-21
On Wednesday, the Port of Funchal handled four cruise ships with a total of 4,538 passengers and 2,021 crew, according to APRAM. Liberty of the Seas arrived at 07:00 with 3,682 passengers and 1,411 crew on a 15-night repositioning voyage from Southampton to Galveston and left Funchal at 18:00 for the United States. Le Lapérouse arrived around noon with 142 passengers and 119 crew, is staying overnight in Funchal, and is due to sail to the Canary Islands on Thursday.
Hanseatic Spirit remained in Funchal for an extra night and is due to leave early Thursday morning for the Canary Islands. Amadea is scheduled to depart Funchal at 23:00 for the Canary Islands. APRAM also said Mein Schiff 6 is due in Funchal on Thursday and is expected to stay overnight.
Sources
Madeira Guide
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